From working at Alton Towers and helping with his family business to supporting procurement operations at JCB, Ollie’s procurement apprenticeship has given him the opportunity to build practical procurement skills while gaining experience in a corporate environment.
Ollie completed the Level 3 Procurement and Supply Assistant Apprenticeship with JCB and Oxford Professional Education, achieving a Distinction.
We caught up with him to find out why he chose an apprenticeship, what he learned and what advice he would give to anyone considering an apprenticeship.
What was your background before starting your apprenticeship?
My background before JCB consisted mainly of Alton towers part time jobs as a retail associate and a resort champion doing multiple different jobs in variety of restaurants. I also worked for the family business for a bit as well consulting with lots of clients
Why did you decide to sign up for the apprenticeship?
I wanted to get some corporate experience behind me and thought JCB would be the best option there for me, I already had an existing knowledge of buying because of my business at the time so I wanted to further understand this and expand my knowledge
How are you finding the apprenticeship so far?
It has been an amazing journey for me completing the apprenticeship and everything have done throughout it. I will take away this experience and knowledge for the rest of my life
How does the apprenticeship support your daily work?
The knowledge I learnt supported my daily work as it gave me that perception of how-to priorities things, what to do in certain situations and how to negotiate
Tell us about the company and what your job role involves.
My day to day role involves making sure our line doesn’t stop, raising orders and managing a supplier base to ensure our cabs are sent out on time without delay.
How does Oxford Professional Education support you in your apprenticeship?
Oxford heavily supported my apprenticeship through support during tests, explanation of tasks and onefile ect as well as engaging sessions which helped me to get a distinction
Would you recommend this apprenticeship to others?
Yes, I would recommend this apprenticeship, I have found it very interesting to learn about the world of business and how things work. I think this is a great standing point to begin learning about the corporate lifestyle as it shows you the way systems work how to negotiate which is an important part of life, I also liked it for learning how to deal with people and managing tasks and priorities
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting an apprenticeship?
It is an extremely beneficial couple years of your life in which you will learn things you need to know in the real world. It teaches you what you can learn in school gets you paid and also allowes you to learn grown up tasks which will help for the future, it also boosts your confidence builds your network ect.
Ready to take the next step?
Whether you’re looking to start a career in procurement or want to develop procurement talent within your organisation, our Procurement and Supply Apprenticeships combine professional learning with practical workplace experience. Find out more about our Procurement and Supply Apprenticeships and see how we can support you.